Passive Atheism Won't Work | Godless Blogger

Nov21 Passive Atheism Won’t Bring About Change
Category: Ramblings

People seem to throw around the term “angry atheism” a lot like it is a bad thing. Yet, sitting around doing nothing will not make a change in the world. Religious groups always get attention because they actively seek it. I am not saying we should do the same type of crazy shit they do, but we need to do something.

But first, you’ve gotta get mad!… You’ve got to say, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’

If something is bothering you, take action. I applaud the Freedom From Religion Foundation in the efforts it makes. It seems like whenever a major event happens they step up and send out letters and lawsuits.This is a perfect example of what we need more of. Join as many secular groups as you can and get out there and support their efforts.

We probably shouldn’t start whining and bitching about every little thing though. Sure it gets the pastors on the tv, but all they do is look like asses. If you are an atheist, you need to realize that every time you go out into public you represent us. Being blatantly rude and annoying, will only set us back further. It is only through an educated and careful approach we can expect to change the way people think. Yelling out “You’re WRONG!” solves absolutely nothing. Actually, it might reinforce many theists prejudice against atheists. Imagine if someone walked up and called you a fucktard because of your atheism. Did that change your thoughts any?

When I am having discussions with theists, many come into it assuming I am an evil person, close minded, and hellbent on destroying everything they hold dear. It doesn’t matter that it isn’t true, people are already thinking it. Angry atheism is the way to go. Go out in your community and talk with other people, atleast try to understand what they believe and why. When atheism is able to climb out of its considerable stigma, maybe we will be more accepted. That’s all I really want, to be accepted for who I am and feel free to live my life. Humanity needs to work together if we ever want to acheive peace.

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Tags: angry atheism, atheism, religion, theists

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murmur55
People are so infected with their sanctified "religious" #memeplexfrak that they have no ability to disinfect themselves. As the memeplexes try to propagate, they are at their mercy and so, unfortunately, are we.
Mar Walker
Though, religion is one major "us against them" division humans use to engage in what I would have to call clannish ideological tribalism.... If religion disappeared tomorrow - other divisions between groups of people would seem to be more important and would become the "cause" of wars violence and stupidity. Really, human nature is the cause, and our tendency to carve ourselves up into us and them, and dehumanize "them" whoever they are.. What we must remember is our ideological enemy is fully human being even if he is utterly illogical. The human part deserves respect even if the ideas need to be challenged.
godlessblogger
That's an excellent point. You can see us vs them used in advertising
and the media all the time, because it works. I know that people will
always find some reason to blow each other up. It doesn't matter how
bad a person is or how foolish, they are still human. Which I guess is
why I generally don't approve of the death penalty. Change takes time,
but it won't happen on it's own either.
godlessgirl
I would also vote for a different term than "Angry Atheism" since we don't want belligerent, offensive idiots running around shouting "haha, you suck and have no brains!" So many atheist blogs out there go around spewing hatred and vile antagonism. I don't think these make any real progress--they only make enemies. How about the term "Proactive Atheism"? Action and positive representation being the focus.

In other words, I agree with you, but the terms should match the message.
martin pribble
What about simply "Active Atheism" rather than passive? Too easy? Hell I don't even like the label Atheist as I think that's like being called "normal"
godlessblogger
Yea that is also true. I see myself as an atheist to the Hebrew God and
basically all that religion has managed to conjure up currently. I describe
myself as an atheist, because nobody has come up with a better term as of
yet. I do not particularly like the term "Brights", it feels pretentious.
It's almost like parading around saying atheists are smarter and better than
average people.
godlessblogger
Exactly. Sitting around doing nothing will produce only that, nothing. I don't particularly like that term either. You should be mad on the inside so that you are provoked to do something, but not necessarily mad and vile towards others. I just want to see all of humanity getting along one day. Personally I see religion having the potential to interfere with that dream though.
MICHAEL GRACE
All of these religious businesses don't pay taxes, own property and totally suck on our economy. Most of these priests, ministers, etc., get a free ride. TAX THEM AND ALL RELIGION.
godlessblogger
Amen. If we just tax them all it is completely fair.
TylerV
Ha first, we DO pay taxes. They are just broken down differently. Second, the tax breaks we get are because we are non-profit organizations and so come under non-profit tax law. So to tax religious institutions BECAUSE the are religious and to ignore that they are non-profits would be a violation of the civil statutes, and i would day say the constitution.

As for you just wanting to "gain a better understanding..." Tell me, how did you achieve that in your blog on the difference between Science and Faith? Or the Bulldozer of Atheism? of God Prefers a Good Ol' Atheist? Looks about Right? A Headline I want to See? Renewed Efforts? Ha, these are what, conversation starters? ha.

As for Courtenay Werleman, sorry, he may be funny and witty but he is so vitriolic and hateful and often KNOWINGLY misrepresents his opponents that to suggest his book is just foolish. For an extended interview and post you can check out his two part interview on RustyLime.com with the following conversations between him and me. Or see his blog at rationalists.wordpress.com. The man is witty, but so not qualified to write the book he did, and If I were an atheists, I wouldnt need enemies with friends like him. He is precisely that raging anti-theist (by his own confession) that you say atheists SHOULDNT be in this very post.
godlessblogger
I think all of the posts you mentioned were daily pictures. I wouldn't take those so seriously. Mostly they are jokes aimed at theists. I can understand how you are offended though. I do honestly want to better understand what other people think. It is foolish to assume a religious person is automatically inferior. In the case of you, I'd much rather we be friends than enemies. Even if we simply agree to disagree. I am always open to new ideas, provided they aren't too insane. As for CJ Werleman, I have invited him to comment on this site. I cannot speak for him and feel it would be better for him to speak for himself.
TylerV
So in order to change the negative stigma about Atheism you are going to call the new strategy "Angry atheism"? ha. And this coming from a blogger who interviewed and recommend Courtenay Werleman's book, "God Hates You, Hate Him Back" in which ALL he does is yell and rant and slander, etc. and who, rather than stepping up and debating theistic posts on this blog, simply calls them absurd and never actually deals with them, and posts basic propaganda for to bolster his anti-theism following and make Christians look stupid, inferior, and ignorant. Ha, maybe you should take your own advice.
godlessblogger
First, I didn't create that term. I just hear people talking about it quite often. Yes I did interview CJ Werlemen. So what? Did you read the sample chapter of his book? If you follow him on Twitter, usually his jokes are not simply yelling and ranting, they are witty and smart. There is a difference. You go back to the debate thing again I see. I never got any emails from you about a debate, yet you claim you have tried to contact me many times. Also, this blog is something I run in my spare time. Most of the time I can only devote about an hour to the site a day, and that is on a good day. Generally I am quite busy with other aspects of my life and I do not have time to properly prepare and debate you anyway. I am happy to have discussions with you, but that is different. I don't want to "deal with theists", I want to understand what you believe. This post is more of a call to action than anything else. What is your definition of propaganda? Here are a few I found:
information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause
The promotion of specific ideas or views, often political in nature.
text that uses false or misleading information to present a slanted point of view.
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I would agree that the first two describe my site quite well. I do not use false or misleading information though. Many times I am sharing my thoughts on particular issues. My goal is not to coerce or to deceive my readers. If anything all I want is to gain a better understanding of how other people think and how we can better get along.